UK livaboards on ships

spv737

spv737

Member
Joined
14 Dec 2004
Messages
35
Location
UK, Northwest
Visit site
Have been looking at converting a ship (100ft) to a liveaboard but am having great difficulty finding an insurance company who will even give 3rd party insurance for this type of boat. Would anyone, in particular those who liveaboard the converted ships in Port Werburgh be able to post the insurance company they use, and any advice about insurance types etc.

thanks
spv737

<hr width=100% size=1>
 
As a houseboat but as it has an engine (not working) then it doesn't qualify as a true houseboat.But would probably want to have a serviceable engine to make moving it easierand possible estuary cruising later. So third party whilst converting then higher insurance once completed. All I seem to do is hit brick walls at every stage of this proposed project, no one seems to want to help you do anything!!

<hr width=100% size=1>
 
May be wrong about this, but I don't think there is now any regular from the Port Werburgh boats here, though maybe someone from Hoo.

One in the past was Bill Cooper of "Sell up and sail" fame, his 70ft barge is fully seaworthy and I believe he is now in central France somewhere, but considering giving up the liveaboard life. I think he once mentioned he was insured by Pantaenius.

I suspect this issue may hinge on whether or not this ship is intended as a houseboat, i.e. maintained primarily as a dwelling, not capable of independent propulsion.

Conventional yacht insurers will insure liveaboards but generally do not cover houseboats. Obviously, to be navigated beyond inland waterways, the Merchant Shipping rules with regard to safety become increasingly onerous for recreational vessels of this size (particularly above 70ft), and insurers will be concerned about this. If it will be maintained solely as a houseboat, as such a craft is at very low risk unless it is moved one might question whether insurance is essential. There are a few brokers that specialise in houseboats, e.g. Cheers Insurance.

Incidentally, although this forum is for liveaboards, on the whole this tends not to include houseboats, so you may find more help elsewhere.
 
I live on a (mobile) 15m dutch barge, and know many people on boats approaching your 100ft. My gf is in the process of purchasing a 77ft fully-rigged boat. Insurance isn't a problem - insure it as a boat, not a houseboat.

Euromarine were helpful for me.

You will need a hull survey unless the boat is under 20yrs old.

<hr width=100% size=1>
 
Have emailed Port Werburgh owners but had no reply as yet. I will try Pantaenius . thanks. Yes i agree the definition of a houseboat is as you say and this project will be more of a seaworthy ship for liveaboard purposes. If you try and define it as a houseboat then the insurance companies tend to say "no, but try theses people as they may be able to help you" so you end up going in circles with a bad end result.Its an uphill struggle to do this project from finding a berth to keep it and also somewhere to carry out the conversion work, Everyone wants to charge you an arm and a leg for everything and rules and regulations also get in the way. So unless i can sort every stage of the project then it wont happen and i will probably just remain in the old rat race!!

<hr width=100% size=1>
 
Thanks will try them as well, The ship is nearly 100 yrs old (steel hull) has had a survey which was good but was 2 years ago so in a catch 22 of the insurance companies want an annual survey on a ship that age so want an in date survey to insure it so i will have to get it surveyed straight away but will mean owning the ship without insurance and a min of 3rd party is required everywhere.

<hr width=100% size=1>
 
there may be a problem of needing ship-type qualifcations to move a boat of that size. FWIW a yachtmaster ticket is for vessels up to 200 gross tons.

i imagine you'd need to talk to ship rather than yacht insurers.

<hr width=100% size=1>
 
You don't need to own a ship to get it surveyed - it is quite, quite normal to pay a (returnable) deposit for a ship, then have it surveyed.

I think you should think long and hard about what you are attempting here. Large, old steel vessels aren't a cheap option. You can pick them up cheap and live on them - but don't try to cruise.

You'll find you burn a stupendous amount of fuel on something very large - what is the tonnage of this vessel, what are the engines?

Painting and upkeep is equally horrendously high.

I'm a member of the Barges association - take a look at www.barges.org for a wealth of info.

Bowen Marine are experts at surveying steel vessels.

You may find moorings are your biggest problem

I urge you to consider something smaller, at least initially. Get handling and maintenance experience on a smaller boat, then move up.

Mooring, and general manouvering a big steel boat is a different world from small and medium grp. My 'small' barge weighs 18 ton. When my engine failed in Grimsby marina, and I hit the wharf I was going at less than walking pace. It bent a 1" steel rail like it was candyfloss.

I keep the bent pushpit rail to remind me not to get cocky.

<hr width=100% size=1>
 
Thanks for the advice
I have already had similar thoughts and perhaps cruising is a bit over the top but certainly from a point of view of having to move the ship to dry dock for surveys etc having an engine would be advantages over towing and could get a local pilot to actually take charge of the ship.
I have and still am considered smaller but as its more of a houseboat orientated project (with possible option to move about) , then space and comfort is a greater priority than moving it.

<hr width=100% size=1>
 
AndrewB mentions the Coopers - Bill & Laurel. As coincidence has it, a friend emailed today to say they know them rather well - they're in Greece at the moment. If it would help I can pass on the query but I do know their barge - although vast - is a movable feast not a static houseboat.

<hr width=100% size=1>a pragmatist is a sailor who now believes it will _always_ rain
 
though not always moveable from what i've read.

with a thing that size, when things go wrong they really go wrong!

<hr width=100% size=1>
 
Quite - but they can probably host a bigger tea dance than even SL !

<hr width=100% size=1>a pragmatist is a sailor who now believes it will _always_ rain
 
I was talking to the capitain of a "small"ship also about 100feet i guess he told me that even after some years as capitain of that ship the wind traffic and conditions caused him to "nudg" a seawall resulting in a very large dent on his bow!! He had arrived in Gib when i asked how much fule it used he spoke in "tons per day" !!!!!!
Alright if you have cargo to pay the costs. On the other hand the "single" engin would run even if a few cylinders were being seviced and it was huge!!!Starting with compressed air
Hope your project works out

<hr width=100% size=1>liveaboard
 
Well after contacting just about every insurance company I have drawn a blank and have give up on the idea (for now) . Somebody must insure larger older vessels as there are many liveaboards in the uk in these type of vessels but I cant find them. They often use the same underwriters and all I get is "we've already had an enquiry about this boat". I love the idea of converting a boat but have considered a motor yacht but theres no challenge in just buying it and moving onboard and the costs of purchase are massive compared to buying an old boat for conversion. I did look at an ex MFV which was insureable but needed too much work and at the end of it would'nt offer enough accomodation space. So for now its all on hold while I have a re-think about size,space,cost etc! Thanks for the tips you all gave, especially about moving bigger vessels.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top